Login / Signup

Anxiety Mediates the Relation Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Genito-Pelvic Pain in Adolescent Girls.

Marie Santerre-BaillargeonPascale Vézina-GagnonIsabelle DaigneaultTina LandrySophie Bergeron
Published in: Journal of sex & marital therapy (2016)
Previous research has demonstrated associations between child sexual abuse, anxiety, and genito-pelvic pain, but no study to date has examined whether sexual abuse may be associated with genito-pelvic pain through victims' elevated anxiety. The present study aimed to determine whether anxiety mediates the relationship between child sexual abuse and genito-pelvic pain. Using self-report questionnaires, data were gathered from 218 sexually active adolescent girls recruited from seven metropolitan high schools. As expected, results revealed a significant indirect effect of sexual abuse on the development of genito-pelvic pain through trait anxiety. This study thus suggests that anxiety may be one of the mechanisms by which child sexual abuse leads to an increased risk of developing genito-pelvic pain in this population.
Keyphrases
  • chronic pain
  • pain management
  • neuropathic pain
  • rectal cancer
  • mental health
  • spinal cord
  • spinal cord injury
  • single cell
  • electronic health record
  • artificial intelligence